Durant says Westbrook will return Thursday

POSTED: Feb 18, 2014 12:04 AM ET

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Injured Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will return Thursday against the Miami Heat, his teammate, Kevin Durant said in a recent interview with Grantland's Bill Simmons.

Westbrook has missed 27 games since having surgery on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee -- the third procedure in nine months.

The three-time NBA All-Star tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the second game of the playoffs last April. Westbrook underwent an operation after that injury and had another procedure on Oct. 1 to remove a loose stitch.